Meat Industry Association Appoints Nick Beeby as Chief Executive
The Meat Industry Association (MIA) has appointed Nick Beeby as chief executive.
New National agriculture spokesman Todd Muller says he will spend time listening to the views of the primary industries.
“I will spend time listening. I tend to do that, it’s my style,” he told Rural News.
“I’m very keen to listen first hand to the agribusiness sector and the views of farmers.”
Muller this month took over the role from Nathan Guy, who will retire from politics at the general election next year. Muller promises to advocate fiercely for the agribusiness sector.
The Bay of Plenty MP says if he sees the Government doing something against the interests of agribusiness he will speak out.
“I will be a fierce advocate for the agribusiness sector.”
Muller, a former executive at Zespri and Fonterra, says it’s a huge privilege to be the agriculture spokesman for National.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to contribute to National and to be a voice for the agribusiness sector.”
Muller says discussions on the primary sector mostly concern its contribution to the national economy – a whopping $45 billion annually.
However, he says other stories also need to be told about farmers doing good work to be more environmentally efficient relative to other countries.
Opposition Leader Simon Bridges announced that Muller will pick up the agriculture, biosecurity and food safety portfolios. He already has forestry.
“Todd is a hard working and high performing MP who deserves promotion. I have no doubt that Todd will hold this Government to account on behalf of rural New Zealand,” Bridges said.
Bridges also paid tribute to Guy.
“Nathan has been a valued colleague and friend. I wish him all the best for his future career and thank him for the service he has given NZ over 15 years.
“Nathan has been a champion for rural NZ. As a farmer and a businessman he understood more than most what the sector needed and he delivered for them.”
Muller’s climate change portfolio has been picked up by Scott Simpson.
Potatoes New Zealand and Garden to Table have partnered together to celebrate a versatile vegetable and the people behind it.
Mainland Poultry has confirmed new ownership of its vertically integrated agribusiness with Pacific Equity Partners Gateway (PEP Gateway) now joining current shareholders Navis.
The recently published State of the Industry -Tractors and Machinery 2025 from the Australian Tractor and Machinery Association (TMA), the equivalent of New Zealand’s TAMA, gives an interesting perspective of the industry.
Strong competition and tightening supply have seen wool reach its highest prices paid at auction since 2011.
The Government is funding a feasibility study to investigate what would be required for a successful farmer-led purchase of the McCain Foods' vegetable processing site in Hastings.
A young man just five years out of his Lincoln University degree already has his foot in the door of farm ownership, as equity manager of a large new dairy conversion now taking shape in Mid- Canterbury.

OPINION: The old saying 'a new broom sweeps clean' doesn't always hold up, if you ask the Hound.
OPINION: This old mutt went to school to eat his lunch, but still knows the future of the country, and…